Lightning — Mitchell, North Carolina

2000-06-25 · near Bakersville, Mitchell, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

Strong to severe thunderstorms developed in the mountains during the early afternoon and rumbled east across the foothills and into the western piedmont by early evening. All of the damage was produced by straight-line winds estimated almost as high as 70 mph that downed trees and power lines. In the Asheville, Biltmore, and Skyland areas 3300 people were left without power. A couple of houses were damaged by falling trees in Weaverville and Barnardsville. Fifteen to twenty trees were downed in Black Mountain - with some on cars. In Union county, sections of a church roof blew off, doors blew out, nails were pulled out the wall, and shingles were blown away. Gusty winds between 40 and 45 mph blew down one tree which landed on and flattened a car near Stony Point.Lightning struck a tree in a picnic area on top of Roan Mountain. A family was shocked as the lightning spread through the adjacent ground and pavement. One man fell back and hit his head on the pavement. He died five days later from a blood clot in his brain. The other five people suffered minor burns, cuts, and bruises.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5154389. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.